Prime Minister Mark Carney stated on Thursday that Canadian politicians traveling to Washington who are not part of his government often return without learning anything new about Canada-U.S. trade. Speaking at an announcement in Oakville, Ontario, Carney emphasized that the Government of Canada is the sole negotiator for the country.
Carney's Remarks on Negotiations
"In the end, there's one negotiator for Canada, and that is the Government of Canada," Carney said. He noted that U.S. interlocutors are generous with their time, meeting with various Canadians, but both sides recognize the federal government as the legitimate negotiating body.
Carney's comments follow a group of Conservative MPs traveling to Washington for a networking event hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Canada. They met with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, along with other federal and provincial officials. According to The Canadian Press, Greer indicated that the "America First" policy under President Donald Trump is immovable, and the U.S. is interested in energy cooperation with Canada.
"It has not been our experience that people have gone to Washington and have learned anything new," Carney said, adding that visitors often miss critical details about ongoing discussions and negotiation status.
Conservative Response
Opposition Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said Wednesday that dozens of Conservative MPs have traveled to Washington in recent years to advocate for tariff-free trade and protect Canadian workers. Ontario MP Shelby Kramp-Neuman, the party's critic on Canada-U.S. trade, plans to travel to Washington in the coming weeks.
Poilievre, who traveled to Texas and New York last month, has not visited Washington since becoming party leader in 2022. He advocates letting the U.S. administration deal with "one prime minister at a time." He recently stated his intention to brief Carney on his trip and mentioned texting with the prime minister during an appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience.
The Conservatives have criticized Carney's government for failing to secure a trade deal with Trump that would reduce existing tariffs, such as the 50 percent levies on steel and aluminum.
